Marvelous Matt's Spectacular Spreadsheet Toll Free Helpdesk

Ok, so I guess I'll start. Trying to enter Chipper's times. As you can see, I was able to enter his fast lap, but I keep getting a format nastygram when entering his total. I included a screenshot of what I'm typing in. I'm pretty sure I'm typing it right. Ive just been entering m:ss.sss with no problem but I tried all variations with this one, including making sure I'm using colons and not semi colon. Maybe a problem in that cell?

Hi Cuz'n, great idea thank you.
I have been working with Chipper and I had the same problem.

The reason the cell will not accept the entry is the time formatting has been changed.
I select the two cells above his times & do a copy but here's the important part.
 Select his two time entry cells, then from the Sheets Edit menu (or right-click) do a "paste special", paste format only.
Try that. It works for me but I don't know if you can do the paste special w/o access permissions.

/Add: If paste special in not an option just be sure to copy from the same column you paste to. That works too. /Add

I have not figured out how this is happening.
I suspect the "clear" option on the mobile app is wiping the cells content and formatting
have not tested that theory.... But it figures /Add: Nope that's not it. I tried using "clear" as anonymous mobile user, no trouble found /Add

This it the same problem as I described in the Copy/Paste section of the User Tips.
I cannot protect the formatting in the public cells.

Enzo writes:
Regarding the spreadsheet, a great idea BTW, I'm on a phone with Android and have the Sheets app installed and up-to-date. Also I'm using Androids native keyboard. Unfortunately it kept giving me a format error no matter what I tried.

I've been a database/spreadsheet nerd since the early 90s so I was expecting a no-brainer experience. The only way I got it to work was to copy & paste someone else's score. Then it was just a case of editing the times. Hope it helps those having the same problem.

Matt Replies:
I think this is the same problem Chipper is experiencing.
The time formatting is getting clobbered by the mobile app. 

Enzo, do you recall if you used the "clear" option when editing your entries from the mobile app?

Also, copy/pasting someone else's time can introduce a second problem, corrupting the conditional formatting used for the purple times.
HelperDesk (or users if they can) must use "paste special, formats only" from a cell in the same column to fix the time format, and preserve the conditional formatting.
For now, only I should fix errors in the conditional formatting.
I have just redone the time formatting and checked the conditional formatting for all entries... they were all fine.
Hope resetting the time formatting fixes some of these problems.

Hi Matt, still can't seem to update from my IPad. Can you pleas post for me, 00:34.661 and 04:49.797. Thanks.
when I tap on the box, that's all I get. And if I tap on the pencil, I get that across the bottom. No edit box, no keyboard.

Vinny
i saw your reply in the comments in last post.
When I tap on a time entry I see the edit box appear across the bottom of the screen on my iPad.
There is a small fx symbol on the far left of the edit box.. Can you see the edit box?
If so tap in the edit box and the keyboard should appear.
~ M

Matt, re: your post about making a copy of your spreadsheet (reprinted in full below with no permission whatsoever from the author), I think I have a handle on it, but just want to clarify i'm right as I don't want to cause you any additional moron fixes. when I try saving (downloading) as .xls or .ods, it loses the formatting. I was about to "save a copy", but didn't want to ball anything up. my thoughts are to save a copy, rename the copy "Team Sheet Master for n7th Do Not Edit" and let that remain my clean copy, and overwrite everytime you release a new version. Then I would make a copy of that and rename it Team Race Sheet n7th "race name" for the individual races, and share with the same people, which is everyone I guess. Just looking for am I right or wrong. my thoughts on the naming convention are because I assume that team indy will be seeing them as well so putting the team name in will avoid confusion going forward. I'm not the best choice to be the spreadsheet admin due to my multiple irons in the fire, but I guess I can make time once a week to get in front of a computer and refresh the sheet for the new race. volunteers accepted with a smile , or smiley.
Just let me know if i'm going in the right direction, and feel free to post a massively detailed MattOCD thorough step by step "How to" if you wish

Also, I got much love for ya for coming up with this. I know I've said it before, but it is brilliant. As much a time saver as it is an excellent at a glance standings report

Regarding use of the race sheet going forward.

I have friends on both sides I cannot pick a side.
And I cannot update and improve more than one sheet.
That's revision control 101. It's just not feasible.

Those are the reasons for the proposal I put forward in the post above about ownership.
I keep my master version where it is, and I work on that one as new ideas come about.

To kick off a new private race, either group/site/team can make themselves a fresh copy of my latest version.
They then have full access to their copy... Rename it how they want, set sheet protections, share it, do it all.

As is it supports 3 teams of up to 20 drivers. It is quite flexible. You don't even need me around to do all that.
You can hide unwanted driver rows for smaller teams.
You can't hide teams tho. Gotta use 3 (for now)
If you need more or fewer teams that requires my help but it's a bitch.
I still need to work on that.

Anyone with good spreadsheet skills can whip up a new private race in a flash.

I am not leaving here or blowing you off. This is my well considered view of how I think it needs to be managed.
And I can help but don't want to be the keeper of all race forms. And you gotta be able to use it when I'm not around.

So not only do I not mind you going around me to make a private copy, I need you to.

And this is exactly what I posted on the other side

Read more: n7thgear.boards.net/thread/873/n7thgear-races-round-fiends-brands?page=3#ixzz3pmi9WLhA

I have added a new 5th tab to the race sheet: Sheet Tips.
It contains the above info about starting a new race sheet, all tidied up and bound to be more current that what is posted above.
Please look there for help starting a new race.

Also I removed all edit access I had given to some individuals on my original sheet.
Now that the above process is established that seemed unnecessary.

iPhone and iPad requirements
To download the Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides app, you'll need iOS version 7.0 or up.
If you use an older versions of iOS, you will be able to view, but not edit, your files.
Check which version of iOS you're using
On your iPhone or iPad, touch Settings.
Select General > About.
Next to "Version" you'll see which version of iOS you're using.

Android phone and tablet requirements
To download the apps for Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides, make sure your Android phone or tablet has Android version 4.0 or up.
If you're using an older version, you won’t be able to download the Docs or Sheets apps, or upgrade to the new version of the Drive app.
Check which version of Android you're using
On your Android device, select Settings > About.
Under "Version" you'll see which version you're using.

A recent (29-Oct-2015) update to the Google Sheets mobile app for iOS appears to have a bug.

When you tap on an entry cell or the edit box to edit, the keyboard pops up and hides the edit box so you cannot see what you are typing.

The problem only seems to occur in landscape view. Rotate your device to portrait view and the edit box is visible.

Now Showing on the Team Race Sheet:

The Race Sheet now supports any number of teams from 1 up to 10 teams of 20 drivers.
Instructions for hiding unused teams are found in the Sheet Tips.
.Team Race Sheet

From my iPad, using emoji keyboard to place a flag before the driver name works just fine... 
Great find! Thanks
.

Who knew? I'll add that little gem to the User Tips on driver names.

Place of birth or place of residence?

If you can't decide between flag of residence vs flag of origin, fly them both!